Last Week
I spent most of last week and some of this week recaning this chair of my mom's.
I've had it for, okay! Six years. Sorry, Mom.
I learned to cane chairs from The Caner's Handbook
I caned a bunch of chairs for my mom and other people, and I guess I burned out on caning.
It's a lot of hand work. There really aren't any magic shortcuts. Your hands are damp for hours, and sometimes the cane end gives you a good stab under the fingernail.
On the positive side, it's a peaceful, meditative process. It gives me plenty of time to think in a way the internet doesn't. I especially like the way each layer of cane going each different direction supports the other layers. 
When I learned to cane, I had an idea of doing it as a part-time business. But after doing it enough, I've learned I'd rather cane for love than money.
I'll never be a master caner, but I can weave a seat you can sit on.
Labels: chair caning, fixing stuff
posted by Alwen | 10:32 AM
11 Comments:
I'm exceedingly impressed!
I thought of you the other day at my knitting group. One of my compatriots said that she'd never managed to get the hang of tatting and always ended up in a horrific tangle.
Someone else said, "Tatting... that's a lost art!"
That seems like a good life statement. Making something that can be used again and again to support the behinds of people you love is a good thing!
I have a whole set of dining room chairs that are waiting to be refinished and have their backs caned. My husband is supposed to finish the wood and I'm supposed to cane the backs. I wasnt' sure where to find the info but now you've given me a source. Of course, they've been in storage for um, many years so who knows when we'll get to them. Your chair seat looks perfect.
Such a wonderful skill! I'm already considering getting the book.
So the cane goes down into the hole, up out of the next hole and across, into the hole, up out of the next hole. . . hypnotic! do you need some sort of tool to get that final fourth layer plaited in? You do such BEAUTIFUL work!!
What a nice sequence of photos. The end result is fantastic, but it does look like hard work.
oh man that's clever. Well done!
Wow I am impressed, you are a real handy woman! Great job, it is as good as new!
What a lot of work - my hands were aching as I read, thinking about the strength involved. I love the smooth, even finish and the fact that an object gets another round of life.
I can't do that. I'm sure I could if I learned how, but I can't. Let's hear it for useful skills.
My verification string is poggedo. Sounds like a feature of Italian architecture, or maybe a kind of pudding.
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